Subaqueous supporting structure for working platforms



Jan. 26, 1954 c. A. D. BAYLEY 2,667,038 SUBAQUEOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING PLATFORMS Filed July 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l I 5.1: .1.

INVENTOR. M W

QTTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 c. A. D. BAYLEY 2,667,038

SUBAQUEOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING PLATFORMS Filed July 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY I 7? ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 c, D, BAYLEY 2,667,038

SUBAQUEOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING PLATFORMS Filed July 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 QTTO ENE) Jan. 26, 1954 C. A. D. BAYLEY SUBAQUEOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING PLATFORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 17, 1952 ATTORNEY INVENTOR M Q A9.

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Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBAQUEOUS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING PLATFORMS 10 Claims.

My present invention relates to a supporting structure for platforms supported over bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, gulfs, seas and ocean margins, and to a method of erecting such supporting structures and platforms.

Platforms of this type are useful, for example, for well drilling operations below water level, as for example, in the Gulf of Mexico.

Heretofore platforms have been constructed in coastal waters by building foundations of piles of great length individually driven into the ocean bed and crossed-braced in groups. On the pile structure thus erected a deck or platform suitable for oil drilling operations was erected. The decks r platforms consisted generally of steel shapes and beams on which a floor was placed. After a platform of this type has served its purpose at one site it must be dismantled and reerected at the next site of operation. In driving the piles and in placing the cross-bracing elements and platform elements or sections, floating equipment has been used on which pile drivers, cranes and derricks are mounted. Inasmuch as the tops of such derricks, cranes and other structures are high above the decks of the supporting scows, any wave section even of moderate intensity will tilt or incline the decks of the scow or other floating equipment. This tilting or inclination is greatly multiplied at the tops of the equipment, such as the pile driver leads, masts, derrick booms, and crane booms. Inasmuch as these derricks, cranes and other equipment must be steady in placing and driving the piles, and in placing the cross bracing elements, such work could be done only in calm weather and had to be interrupted and stopped at times when waves, even of moderate intensity, would cause the rocking or tilting of the erecting apparatus. Consequently, the erection of such platforms and the supporting structures was time-consuming and costly.

My present invention provides a structure, and method of erection, in which pile driving and cross-bracing for the support of the deck or platform may be avoided and in which the supporting structure may be constructed in shallow water, floated to the site for erection and then submerged to rest on the bed of the sea, or other body of water, on which supporting columns of any desired height are supported.

My invention also provides platform supporting elements which can be shaped or assembled on shore or in shallow water and floated to the site for placement on the portions of the columns extending above the level of the water.

In my invention I provide a caisson which may be submerged to rest upon the bed of the sea, or other body of water, and which is provided with a number of upright or upwardly extending tubular structures open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends.

The caisson may be constructed of a number of horizontal hollow tubular elements of steel, or other metal, or of reinforced concrete, wood, or other construction material. Reinforced concrete forms a satisfactory material. These horizontal tubular elements are arranged in parallel or side by side relation and connected in a unitary structure. They are provided with suitable means for admitting water for submerging or for displacing the Water with air or other gas when the caisson is to be raised or floated.

The upright or vertical tubular elements for supporting the platform comprise a lower outer cylinder and one or more hollow tubular elements or hollow cylinders which may be floated to position over the outer cylinder, then up-ended and submerged to telescope into the outer cylinder. The tubular element that telescopes directly into the outer cylinder may be raised or lowered to extenda greater or less distance upwardly from the top of its respective outer cylinder a sufilcient length remaining telescoped in the outer cylinder and thereafter the space below the tube may be filled with sand to support the telescoped tube at the selected height. If a tubular supporting structure of greater height than that obtainable by one tube is required, another or succession of tubes may be similarly telescoped into the supporting tube and supported by appropriate means.

-The superstructure is supported on the upper ends of the tubular structure thus formed which will extend a suffieient distance above the surfaceof the water. This superstructure comprises capitals one for each tubular structure and having suitable recesses or sockets into which the ends of complementary supporting portals are lowered and fitted. In this way the various tubular structures are united at their upper ends and a base formed for supporting girders and the floor.

A platform may comprise one or more structures of the above type. For example, when drilling a well two or more may be used. After the completion of the drilling one such structure.

may be left in place for the pumping equipment while the others are again refloated and moved to a new site for another well. No piles are required to support the platform but a limited number of piles may be used to anchor the caisson on the bed of the body of water, or to give it a firmer support.

The various features of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical end View of a platform supporting structure showing the position of the caisson on the floor or bed of the body of water, and the tubular structures extending upwardly above the water level to the level of the platformto be supported;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on a larger scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l of one of the upright tubular supporting elements;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a caisson and the vertical tubular structures taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4- 5 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a plan of a section of the structure showing the arrangement and mounting of the portals on the upper part of the tubular structure;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a part of the structure showing means for supporting one tube telescoped into another;

7 is a vertical section of a portion of the structure taken on line 1-7 of- Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an element of the capital to be carried by the vertical tubular supporting elements.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the caisson is illustrated as formed of a number ofhorizontal hollow closed upper and lower cylinders Ii and 12. These cylinders may be arranged in any desired relative arrangement either parallel or at angles to those of the adjacent layers. In the embodiment illustrated, by way of example, they are placed in parallel or side by side positions and slightly spaced. The cylinders are united in a unitary structure by spaced cross-beams it. These cylinders and cross-beans may be made either of concrete or of steel or of other metal. They may be united in a manner illustrated more in detail in my Patent No. 2,385,341 of September 25, 1945. Suitable pumps and connections and valves may be provided for admitting water to the interior of the cylinders or for displacing the water with air in order to submerge or fioat the caisson.

At suitable spaced intervals box-like compartments 14, illustrated as of rectangular shape and closed at the bottom by a plate l5, are constructed. in the caisson. These compartments being placed between the spaced opposite ends of shorter or interrupted cylinders are open at their upper ends and approximately midway of their sides are provided with spaced lugs 18. The edges of the lugs it may be of substantially circular curvature centered on the vertical axes of the respective compartments Hi. Into each compartment is projects the lower end of an open-ended cylinder ll which has lugs l8 spaced to interlock with the lugs it. The lugs l8 extend only throughout a part of the circumference of the cylinder ll so that the cylinder may be lowered into the compartment M with the lugs l8 projecting toward the corners of the box and then being turned to an angle of 45 will interlock with the lugs it thus securely holding the cylinder H in centered position in its respective box or compartment l4. lvlanholes l9 are provided in the lower ends of the cylinder i! so positioned that when the lugs i8 and it are interlocked the manholes will be in the corner part of the box providing ample access to the lower end of the cylinder i'i.

It will be understood that the cylinders ll have a diameter of several feet, for example to 10 feet and that the space in the corners of the compartments it will be correspondingly large. The compartment i l and cylinder H may be spaced at any suitable interval as, for example, 30 feet apart. The cylinders ll may extend upwardly a substantial but limited distance.

Telescoping within each cylinder H is another cylinder 20 closed at it lower end. This cylinder may be lifted or buoyed upwardly above the cylinder I! to form an extension of the tubular structure leaving, however, a substantial length of the cylinder 29 within the upper part of the cylinder I? in order to prevent horizontal or sidewise movement. When raised to a predetermined height the space within the cylinder i! and below the lower closed end of cylinder 20 may be filled with sand or gravel to form a rigid firm support for the cylinder 20. In the event that it is desired to extend the height of the cylindrical structure still further other cylinders might be telescoped into cylinder 25.

Cylinder 20 may extend for a substantial distance above the cylinder I! and may extend above the surface of the water as indicated in Fig. 1. It may be narrowed towards its end as indicated at 2!. At its upper end th cylinder 26 is preferably widened to form a 22 as shown more particularly in Figs. and A third cylinder 23 may be telescoped in t upper part of cylinder 2'. The cylinder 23 has a flange 25 at its upper end enabl ig the tubular structure to be extended somewhat above the upper end of the cylinder 29. For this purpose jacks may be placed between the flanges 22 and 24 being supported upon the fiange 22, and the cylinder 23 and fiange 2 3 lifted to a predetermined or fixed height. After the cylinder 23 and flange as have been raised segmental blocks 25 are placed on the upper flanged end of the cylinder 23 to fill the space between the flanges 22 and 2d and thus support the cylinder 23 and flange 2s.

The blocks 25 have a horizontal flange 25 at the lower edge and 2'. at the upper edge and radial flanges 28 at each end. The blocks form a complete circle and are bolted together by bolts 29 passing through the radial flanges 28. When a sufficient height of the blocks 25 has been built up the jacks are permitted to lower the cylinder 23 and flange 24 until the flange rests on the blocks which are in turn supported on the other end of the cylinder 26. A spacing ring 30 is provided about the periphery of the upper end of the cylinder 20 to space the cylinder 23 within the cylinder 2%.

Supported on the upper end of each of the cylinders 23 is a capital 35 which in turn supports the portals of the flooring. The capital 3| as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 comprises vertical plates in intersecting planes. Plates 32 and 33 in two planes at right angles are shown by way of example. Each plate is notched or recessed at its lower outermost corner as at as to form an extension 35 which may be set into the upper end of cylinder 23. The notched edges 33 of the capital rest on the upper flanged part of the cylinder 23 and thus support the capital.

In order to grip the extension 35 against the inner surface of a cylinder 23 a pair of semi* cylindrical plates 31 and 33 are provided and joined to the outer edges of the plates 32 and 33 by angle irons 3S. The longitudinal edges of the semi-cylindrical plates 31 and 38 are inturned to form flanges it] and ll. Through one of the flanges, M for example, a screw 22 is threaded so that by screwing it toward the flange 40 the semi-cylindrical plates 3? and tit may be expanded outwardly to contact with the inner surface of the cylinder 23 at its upper end. I I

The semi-cylindrical plates 37 and 38 are also provided with openings through which plugs i3 may be driven at spaced intervals into the upper part of the cylinder 23 to anchor the capital to the cylinder.

Spaced at successive intervals above the upper surface of the cylinder 23 and flange 24 are a series of plates it, 35, 4-5, and t? which span the distances between the vertical plates 32 and 33 to provide a rigid integral capital structure. The lowermost plate 4 3 is spaced a sufficient distance, for example, two and one half feet, above the surface of the flange 24 to permit a man to pass under it and downwardly within the space between the lower extensions 32 and 33 to secure the plugs 43 in the cylinder 23.

In the plates 44- 3! vertical sockets it are provided in which to anchor the portals 49. The sockets 48 comprise cylinders, or other suitable shapes, set into similar recesses in the plates fi l-41 and welded, or otherwise secured thereto, and having a cut away portion through which the ends of the portal 45 may extend. The ends 59 of the portals are enlarged to fit into the cylinders or recesses. The number of such vertical slots may vary from two to four or more as shown in Fig. 5. For example, a corner capital will have two such recesses. A capital in a side of the platform will have three, and one within the platform will have four such recesses. When the portals have been set in place in the capitals 31 the deck of the platform may be placed directly on the portal thus completing the structure.

In the platform of my invention it will be noted that the structure is supported upon a sunk pontoon or series of pontoons resting on the bed of the body of water over which the deck of the platform is supported. The pontoons may be submerged in a secure footing by jets of water if required, or piles may be driven into the bed below the pontoons to prevent shifting. The pontoon may be anchored by piles at suitable intervals around its periphery. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 in which 5| indicates a pile driven into the bed of the sea or gulf and engaged by extensions 52 of the pontoon.

When it is desired to move to a new location pontoons may be lifted by displacing a suii-lcient amount of their water content by compressed air or by pumping out the water, whereupon the entire structure may be floated to a new location and then submerged into position. The entire platform may be constructed of two or more sections which may be floated either as a unit or separately. With this construction if it is necessary to leave a permanent platform for pumping a well, one section may be left in position and the remaining sections floated to a new location and a new unit floated in position to replace the one left at the prior location.

The invention thus provides a greater economy over prior constructions in which it was necessary to sink piles which later had to be blasted and lost to remove hazards to navigation. Also, the present pontoon can be moved and set in place regardless of winds or wave motion inasmuch as the major part of the structure is below the effects of wind or wave motion.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sub-aqueous support for over water platforms which comprises a submergable pontoon structure having horizontally spaced recesses open at their upper ends, hollow lower cylinders one for each said recess open at its upper end, mounted and secured at its lower end in its respective recess, an inner cylinder closed at its lower end and telescoped downwardly into said lower cylinder to a predetermined level, capitals, one for each said inner cylinder, supported by said inner cylinder and portals interlocked in said capitals to form a floor support.

2. The support of claim 1 in which the space within said lower cylinder is filled to the bottom of said inner cylinder with granular material.

3. The support of claim 1 in which said pontoon structure comprises closed, hollow, horizontal cylinders in parallel, and transverse con necting beams.

4. The support of claim 1 in which the recesses and the lower ends of said lower cylinder have interlocking lugs in vertical series and vertical spaces between said lugs.

5. The supporting structure of claim 1 in which said recesses are square in horizontal section and have vertically spaced lugs projecting inwardly from their sides and the end of said lower cylinder within said recesses have outwardly extending lugs engaging the lugs of their respective recesses.

6; The supporting structure of claim 1 having an upper cylinder telescoped downwardly into, and projecting upwardly from said inner cylinder and having a flange projecting outwardly from its upper end, segmental rings mounted between the upper part of said inner cylinder and said flange to support said upper cylinder.

7. The supporting structure of claim 6 in which said capital comprises vertical intersecting plates recessed to form a lower portion projecting into the upper ends of respective upper cylinders and to be supported thereon, vertically spaced horizontal plates integrally secured to said intersecting vertical plates and having aligned recesses to receive the ends of the portals.

8. The structure of claim 7 having a pair of semi-cylindrical plates secured to the outer edges of the lower, recessed, part of the vertical intersecting plates of each said capital and screws to expand said semi-cylindrical plates into engagement with the inner surface of its respective upper cylinder.

9. A capital to fit into and rest on a vertical hollow cylinder which comprises intersecting vertical plates recessed at their lower ends to form a projecting part of smaller dimension to enter a cylinder and a supporting edge to rest on the end of the cylinder, spaced parallel plates intersecting the upper part of said group of vertical intersecting plates and integrally secured thereto and recessed at their outer edges between said vertical intersecting plates to form a vertical locking recess.

10. The capital of claim 9 having a part cylindrical plate in said recess and opening outwardly therefrom.

CHARLES A. D. BAYLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,006 Reno June 18, 1929 2,589,146 Samuelson Mar. 11, 1952 2,600,761 Halliburton June 17, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Eng. News-Record, page 46-47 of Dec. 7, 1950 issue.

Concrete, pages 14-16 of May, 1945 issue. 

